Source: TH
Context: The U.K. and Mauritius have reached an agreement on the return of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritian sovereignty, resolving a long-standing dispute. This development, involving the strategic Diego Garcia base, is seen as a completion of Mauritius’ decolonisation process.
About Chagos Dispute:
- Colonial Background: The Chagos Archipelago was claimed by Britain along with Mauritius in 1814. Before Mauritius’ independence in 1968, the U.K. separated the islands in 1965 to create the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT).
- Military Leasing: In 1966, Britain leased Diego Garcia (the largest island) to the U.S. for a military base, displacing the native Chagossian population.
- Legal Disputes: Chagossians have fought legal battles to return to their homeland. Mauritius has continuously claimed sovereignty over the islands since 1968.
- International Rulings: In 2019, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that the U.K. must return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, calling the U.K.’s administration of the islands unlawful.
Geographical location of Chagos Archipelago:
- Location: Located in the central Indian Ocean, about 1,600 km south of India’s southern tip.
- Key Islands: Includes atolls like Diego Garcia, Peros Banhos, and Danger Island.
- Climate: Tropical marine climate, with weather moderated by trade winds.
- Disputed Nations: The primary parties involved in the dispute are the U.K. (current administrator) and Mauritius (claimant), with the U.S. involved due to the military base on Diego Garcia.
